Is Fostair 100 mild or strong?

[Klau80]

Is there a stronger version of the blue inhaler Ventolin? As mine is 100 and I've seen another which was a 200?

Also,is Fostair 100/6 a mild or a strong inhaler?

I'm suspecting I need stronger meds as whenever the weather is windy and rainy (which is quite a lot) my breathing is very bad.

I've been sent to the cardiology to get checked as I have palpitations, but I normally get checked as I have a valve prolapse. But last time I went to see the asthma nurse she said she could feel arrythmia in my wrist, then did an ECG and that was clear but still sent me to cardiology as she thinks the breathlessness is from my heart issue. I don't think so. I am exercising nearly every day, walking a lot, and sometimes my symptoms are not present. If it was my heart causing this I surely would have it all the time? The nurse said I don't wheeze enough for it to be asthma. But I've read from a few of you that some of you are non wheezing asthmatics? I'm also a very anxious person so stress isn't helping any of these symptoms either.

What would anyone do?

[doonhamer1967]

Re Fostair. It depends how many puffs you are prescribed per day. The maximum is 800mg per day. Details here medicines.org.uk/emc/produc...

[Chip_y2kuk]

So fostair is a "combination inhaler" ... it includes a steroid (beclomethasone) and what they call a long acting bronchodilator (formoterol) ..... the long acting broncho dilator opens your airways like vebtolin/salbutamol but for much more time 12 hours as opposed to ventolins 4

And they normally try people on just a steroid (clenil/qvar) which is just beclomethasone and move to fostair if that isn't effective so it's not "mild" I would say at least "moderate "

Yes there is a stronger version of ventolin but when its supposed to be used as a rescue in emergencies and each canister holds 200 puffs..... also the 100 is a very cheap inhaler for the nhs to buy they would rather you use more of the cheaper one which most people will do a few times here and there *when necessary in an emergency*

Do you have allergies?... i only say this because the wind and rain stirs up/brings down the dust, pollen and mould from the atmosphere and is known to cause allergic asthmatics a hard time.... im currently on steroids and antibiotics because the weather is changing and my heating has started kicking in (stirring up the dust).... the antibiotics are precautionary

If so it *may* be worth trying something like montelukast and a good antihistamine..... they do say montelukast is like marmite you either love it or hate it (some people have very bad side effects and feel the side effects outweigh the benefits, some people have no side effects and it makes a massive difference)

[Klau80 in reply to Chip_y2kuk]

Thanks for this,yes I am allergic and have eczema too. I'm allergic to dust, pollen, grass, mould. So all of those you mentioned. I noticed the wind and rain deifinitely causes issues with me...will ask the doc for montelukast I think. I ussd to take it years ago without problems.

[Hidden]

Fostair 100/6 is the lower dose of this combination inhaler. It can be used regularly morning and evening and 'as necessary' up to a maximum of 8 doses per day. But you would really need to talk to your doctor before starting to do that.

There is a higher dose inhaler 200/6, but that cannot be used 'as necessary'.

[Chip_y2kuk in reply to Hidden]

Yes it can but you can't have as many puffs because its twice as strong the limiting factor is the beclomethasone its relatively side effect less (apart from the dry mouth and the common ones) but over 800mcg it starts to have unpleasant aide effects so the maximum recommended dosage of beclomethasone (regardless of inhaler) is 800mcg as after that is doesn't appear to be well tolerated

[Snowdrop27 in reply to Hidden]

I agree with what stone 93 says. I use fostair nexthaler 200/6 2 puffs twice a day. That is the maximum dose and cant be increased at all.

[Melanie1989 in reply to Snowdrop27]

I was on fostair 200/6 3 puffs twice a day, but I think their is conflicting evidence on effectiveness at this point 😊

[Snowdrop27 in reply to Melanie1989]

I was told that 2 puffs twice a day was maxim dose. I have been on this dose for nearly 3 years and its kept my asthma well controlled.

[Melanie1989 in reply to Snowdrop27]

This was both my consultant and g.p who issued 3 puffs, unfortunately my asthma is to complicated and fostair did not work for me. It would only be secondary or tertiary care that would issue high doses such as this.

I am glad that Fostair works for you and your controlled 😊

[Snowdrop27 in reply to Melanie1989]

Are you okay now?

I am very blessed to have an excellent GP surgery and asthma nurse.

I also take monkelaust and dymista steriod nasal spray plus antihistamines for hayfever in spring and summer.

Dont think that makes mine complicated but if you shake me I will rattle.

God bless

[DollyDutchGirl in reply to Hidden]

I’m on Fostair 200/6 as MART - so, two puffs am and pm - plus up to four more throughout the day. My am and pm Fostair 200/6 is immediately preceded by two puffs of Ventolin. The am is followed by top puffs of Spiriva and the pm is followed by Montelukast at bedtime. I also take Carbocisteine several,time a day....

[Hidden in reply to DollyDutchGirl]

That seems to imply that you are using twice the recommended amount of Fostair, but I guess this is what you have been advised to do by your consultant.

[DollyDutchGirl in reply to Hidden]

My consultant confirmed that is an unlicensed dosage stones93 however, stated that it’s not uncommon for Fostair 200/6 to be prescribed as MART for those whose severe Asthma is proving difficult to get under control. A I mentioned previously, she also has me taking Ventolin immediately prior to the Fostair 200/6 and the am dosage is followed up by Spiriva and the evening dosage is filled by Montelust at bedtime. I now also take Carboisteine up to three times a day and Omeprazole each morning......

[Superzob]

I really do wish that supposed medical professionals would stop telling people that they can’t have asthma because they don’t wheeze; it is very unprofessional because asthma is diagnosed by its reversibility when using a bronchodilator like Ventolin. For instance, I have late onset asthma (17%) and COPD (83%); I never wheeze and use a dual inhaler.

On the issue of how much you can take of a particular medication, I always refer to the BNF at bnf.nice.org.uk. It is pretty common to need to increase an inhaler dose in difficult circumstances, because symptoms are always variable. I have been advised by my consultant to double the dose of my dual inhaler if needed, and that’s still well within the maximum advised in the BNF. But it would be preferable to discuss it first, or at least advise your doctor that you have needed to do it, in case your normal dose is too low.

[Chip_y2kuk in reply to Superzob]

It grates me too ive been infront of a doctor telling them ive used so much combi inhaler and enough salbutamol that I'm not surprised they can't hear a wheeze..... then they go no wheeze so its not asthma.... i normally go thank god there's no wheeze because the 3 times ive been heard wheezing in the last 5 years ive been on my ass which ranged from:

salbutamol not working resulting in a stern telling off from gp and enough prednisolone to upset an elephant

To having a chest infection i had missed and wheezing heard in both lungs as well as a lovely crackle and a very low peak flow that hit me pretty quickly

But yes I think there are a lot of GPS that go off what they are listening to and not what you are telling them and let's be fair i have better things to do than visit them and they have better things to do than tell me its in my head (there's no wheeze so you imagined It) ... so by the time I've gotten to them im out of ideas and already maxed/near maxed on what I have at home..... which is quite a cupboard full

I do wish more would listen to what you are saying

Chip

[Jules22]

Ventolin is a reliever, not a steroid inhaler and fostair is a combination inhaler which includes steroid. What steroid inhaler are you on? Taking a lot of ventolin can make some people have palpitations but if you have a prolapsed valve it maybe that causing your symptoms such as breathlessness.